Depression Latest News & Updates: Behavioral Activation Replacing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy As ‘Gold Standard’ For Depression Intervention?

Mental health is a significant aspect at every stage of life. Unfortunately, almost 350 million of the world's population are suffering from mental health problems including depression and anxiety. Luckily, experts have found an effective and cheaper therapy called behavioral activation for depression.

As Parent Herald previously reported, the global economy is losing almost $1 trillion in productivity cost annually due to mental health issues like depression. But a new study has recently found an equally effective and inexpensive psychological intervention for depression known as behavioral activation.

What Is Behavioral Activation?

Cognitive behavioral therapy is considered as the "gold standard" for depression intervention. However, a team of researchers from the University of Exeter in London has found an inexpensive yet equally effective approach called behavioral activation.

Behavioral activation is a form of talk therapy based on the theory that depressed individuals "tend to engage in increasing avoidance and isolation," which only worsen their symptoms. With that said, this psychological intervention approach fort depression aims to gradually reduce depressed individuals' avoidance and isolation by increasing their engagement in activities that have proven effective to improve mood.

These activities may include exercising, going out to dinner, working toward specific work-related goals, learning new skills and activities, among others, as per Rogers Memorial Hospital. Since this depression intervention approach can be provided by mental health workers with minimal training, it is more cost-efficient than CBT.

"Behavioral activation is an 'outside in' treatment that focuses on helping people with depression to change the way they act," University of Exeter Medical School's NIHR Senior Investigator and lead study author David Richards said, The Inquirer Daily News quoted.

"The treatment helps people make the link between their behavior and their mood," Richards added. "Therapists help people to seek out and experience more positive situations in their lives. The treatment also helps people deal with difficult situations and helps them find alternatives to unhelpful habitual behaviors."

Treating Depression At Low Cost Is A Global Priority

The new study, which was funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Health Technology Assessment Program and published in The Lancet journal, does not only aim to find an effective therapy for depression but also an inexpensive one. Although CBT has been proven effective, access to the treatment is often limited, Psyche Central revealed.

"Effectively treating depression at low cost is a global priority," Richards said. "Our finding is the most robust evidence yet that Behavioral Activation is just as effective as CBT, meaning an effective workforce could be trained much more easily and cheaply without any compromise on the high level of quality."

There's Hope For Battling Depression Worldwide

Richards also added that their study also offers hope to nations that are currently struggling from the impact of depression on their economies. Through behavioral activation, access to high quality depression therapy globally can be improved, Daily Mail noted.

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